Animal diseases and other desasters brought about a number of set-backs. In 1986 a hail storm caused major damages.Some animals froze to death. In summer 1990 a bushfire raged through De Wildt. A pregnant cheetah female and some other animals burnt to death, a few other cheetahs sustained severe burns. Through fund-raising appeals in the media and the unshaken pioneer spirit of Ann van Dyk the Cheetah Centre could soon continue its work.

Since its beginnings, 500 cheetahs - among them many king cheetahs - could be raised in De Wildt and then settled in game reserves in South Africa and other countries. It could be proven that the cheetah bred in captivity do not loose their hunting instinct and are capable of adapting quickly to natural environments.

Thanks to the dedicated endeavour of De Wildt, in 1986 the cheetah could be taken off the list of endangered species in South Africa.

De Wildt is a non-profit institute. It is financed partially by sponsors and partially by donations and also by income from tourism. The centre has an excellent website.

Photos: De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre.Top right: Ann van Dyk with one of her cheetahs.

De Wildt Cheetah
and Wildlife CentreNorth-West Province

At the foot of the Magaliesberg - near the Hartbeespoort Dam - lies the renowned De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, a research and breeding reserve for cheetahs, wild dogs and other endangered species. The centre was founded in 1971 through the private initiative of the conservationist Ann van Dyk on her 65 hectare farm. The population of the cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in southern Africa was then estimated to be a mere 700 animals, and until then nobody had succeeded in breeding them in captivity.

After intensive research with the co-operation of several well-known zoologists and zoo directors and after a number of stillbirths, in March 1975 a break-through could be celebrated: Five cheetah cubs were born on De Wildt and then raised successfully. In 1981 the first birth of a healthy king cheetah could be announced. Dark stripes on its back distinguish it from its normal fellows. So far the king cheetah had be thought to be a species of its own. But the birth on De Wildt proved that the stripes are just an abnormal feature.